Top 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediaries In 2027

Compare 10 firms to act as your 1031 exchange qualified intermediary: fidelity bonds, segregated accounts, CES staff, FEA membership and the 45/180-day rules.

A 1031 exchange qualified intermediary holds your sale proceeds between the sale of one investment property and the purchase of the next, so you never take receipt of the cash and can defer capital gains tax. Since 2018, like-kind exchanges apply only to real property held for business or investment. Choosing the intermediary is one of the few decisions in an exchange that is entirely yours, and it matters, because most states do not license these companies.

The timing rules are strict. You must identify replacement property in writing within 45 days of closing the sale, and you must close on the replacement within 180 days of the sale or by the due date of your tax return for that year, including extensions, whichever comes first. Missing either deadline usually ends the exchange.

We chose these 10 1031 exchange companies on how they protect funds (fidelity bonds, errors and omissions insurance, segregated or qualified trust accounts, parent company guarantees), staff credentials such as the Certified Exchange Specialist (CES) designation, membership in the Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA), the exchange types they handle and how long they have operated. If you are planning broader tax moves around the sale, see our list of tax strategy firms for real estate investors.

1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediaries At A Glance

Company	Headquarters	Best For	Standout
IPX1031	National (FNF subsidiary)	Investors who want the largest stated protections	$100M fidelity bond, $30M E&O
First American Exchange Company	National (First American subsidiary)	High-volume and title-linked transactions	500,000+ exchanges, accounts in taxpayer’s name
Asset Preservation, Inc.	National (Stewart subsidiary)	Complex and reverse exchanges	Founded 1990, 200,000+ exchanges
Chicago Deferred Exchange Company	Chicago, IL	Reverse exchanges and bank-backed security	Qualified trust account per client
Old Republic Exchange	Walnut Creek, CA	Investors who value insurer backing	$80M aggregate fidelity bond
Accruit	Denver, CO	Tech-forward and institutional exchanges	Exchange workflow software, QI Connect
Deferred	Pasadena and Carlsbad, CA	Fee-sensitive forward exchanges	$0 forward exchange fee model
1031 CORP.	Collegeville, PA	Investors who want CES-led service	Most staff hold the CES designation
Atlas 1031 Exchange	Naples, FL	Personal service from a CES founder	Serving clients since 2003
Realty Exchange Corporation	Gainesville, VA	Investors who want account visibility	Segregated FDIC-insured account per exchange

Best 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediaries In 2027

1. IPX1031 — $100 Million Fidelity Bond Backed By Fidelity National Financial

IPX1031 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial, the large title insurance and real estate services company. It publishes some of the most specific fund protections in the industry: a $100 million fidelity bond, a $50 million third-party corporate performance guaranty and $30 million in errors and omissions insurance.

Exchange funds are held in segregated accounts tied to the exchanger’s taxpayer ID. Every disbursement needs the exchanger’s written authorization, and a separate banking division with dual authorization controls the money, so sales staff cannot move funds. As part of a public company, it is also subject to public-company audits and controls.

IPX1031 serves all U.S. states, has CES professionals on staff and is an FEA member. Its executives have served on the FEA board, including as president.

Best for: Investors who want a large, public-company-backed intermediary with clearly stated bond and insurance limits.

2. First American Exchange Company — More Than 500,000 Exchanges Under A Fortune 500 Parent

First American Exchange Company is part of First American Financial Corporation, a Fortune 500 title insurer whose roots go back to 1889. The company reports more than 500,000 completed exchanges and more than 145 exchange experts nationwide.

Its fund security approach is easy to understand: exchange money sits in segregated bank deposit accounts titled in the taxpayer’s name and tax ID, at FDIC-insured institutions with investment-grade ratings. It can often provide an indemnification letter covering losses from negligence, fraud or dishonesty by the company or its staff.

Because First American is also a major title company, it fits well when your closings already run through First American title or escrow offices.

Best for: Investors and brokers who want a high-volume intermediary tied to a national title company.

3. Asset Preservation, Inc. — Stewart-Owned Intermediary Since 1990

Asset Preservation, Inc. (API) was founded in 1990 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stewart Information Services Corporation. It reports more than 200,000 Section 1031 exchanges completed.

API keeps exchange funds in non-commingled accounts and carries a fidelity bond and errors and omissions coverage, backed by a written third-party performance assurance from Stewart. It has Certified Exchange Specialists on staff and is an FEA member.

API also publishes plain-language material on state qualified intermediary laws, such as Washington’s, which requires a fidelity bond or qualified escrow, errors and omissions insurance and separate client accounts. That focus on investor protection makes it a solid pick for first-time exchangers who want to understand the rules.

Best for: Investors who want a long-established intermediary with title company backing and strong educational support.

4. Chicago Deferred Exchange Company — Separate Qualified Trust Account For Every Client

Chicago Deferred Exchange Company (CDEC) was founded in 1989 and is a subsidiary of Wintrust Financial Corporation. Based on LaSalle Street in Chicago, it reports more than 75,000 exchanges, including thousands of reverse exchanges.

CDEC opens a separate qualified trust account for each client on each transaction, which it says protects funds from creditors’ claims by operation of law. Money is placed in AA-or-better institutional money market funds, and all interest goes to the client.

CDEC acts as both qualified intermediary and Exchange Accommodation Titleholder, which is the role you need for a reverse 1031 exchange where you buy the replacement before selling. Several of its executives hold the CES designation.

Best for: Investors planning reverse exchanges or who want funds held in a qualified trust under a bank holding company.

5. Old Republic Exchange — Insurer-Backed Intermediary Incorporated In 1993

Old Republic Exchange was incorporated in California in 1993 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Old Republic International, a multi-line insurance holding company. Its office is in Walnut Creek, California, and it serves investors nationally.

The company states that it carries professional liability insurance with a $50 million aggregate limit and a fidelity bond covering dishonesty or fraud with a $40 million single-loss and $80 million aggregate limit. On request, it provides a written guarantee from Old Republic National Title Holding Company for losses caused by gross negligence, fraud or dishonesty.

That combination of bond, insurance and parent guarantee suits investors who want written protections they can hand to their attorney before signing.

Best for: Investors who want an intermediary backed by a large insurance group with a written parent guarantee.

6. Accruit — Exchange Technology Platform And Qualified Intermediary

Accruit is based in Denver and reports 26 years of 1031 exchange work. It has facilitated more than $6.9 billion in real estate transactions as qualified intermediary and says its broader suite has supported more than $39 billion.

Accruit handles forward, reverse, improvement and specialty exchanges, acting as both qualified intermediary and Exchange Accommodation Titleholder. A Private Client Group serves family offices and institutions, and it lists focus areas in agricultural land, single-family rentals and commercial real estate.

Its technology is the differentiator. QI Connect lets other firms offer exchanges with Accruit as the back-office intermediary, and Exchange Manager Pro is licensed workflow software for exchange operations. Accruit’s president has been elected president of the FEA.

Best for: Institutional investors, platforms and SFR operators who want a tech-driven intermediary.

7. Deferred — Zero-Fee Forward Exchanges Funded By Shared Interest

Deferred presents itself as a qualified intermediary with a different pricing model: a $0 fee for forward exchanges. It shares the interest earned on exchange funds with the client and says that share covers its fee, with no extra charges for wires, rush handling or multiple properties.

Funds are held at a commercial bank in a segregated deposit account. Deferred names JPMorgan Chase and Raymond James as depository banks and states that it carries a $10 million fidelity bond and $5 million in errors and omissions insurance. Clients can start and manage an exchange online.

Its stated bond and insurance limits are lower than those of the title-company-owned intermediaries above, so weigh fee savings against protection for very large exchanges.

Best for: Investors doing straightforward forward exchanges who want a low-cost, online process.

8. 1031 CORP. — CES-Led Team Marking 35 Years In The Industry

1031 CORP. is headquartered in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, with its exchange team based in Bend, Oregon. It marked 35 years in the exchange industry in 2026 and is led by CEO Margo McDonnell.

The firm says most of its team hold the Certified Exchange Specialist designation, and its staff includes an attorney and a CPA. It handles delayed, reverse and improvement exchanges and reports thousands of completed exchanges. In April 2026 it acquired certain business assets of 1031 Exchange Specialists, Inc. in Ocean City, New Jersey, and kept that office open.

For investors who want to speak with a credentialed specialist rather than a call center, its smaller, credential-heavy team is the appeal.

Best for: Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest investors who want hands-on service from CES-designated staff.

9. Atlas 1031 Exchange — Founder-Led Service From A Certified Exchange Specialist

Atlas 1031 Exchange has served clients since 2003 from its office in Naples, Florida. Its founder, Andy Gustafson, holds the CES designation.

Atlas handles forward, reverse, improvement (build-to-suit), leasehold improvement and international exchanges, so it can cover more unusual situations than a basic forward-only provider. It uses qualified escrow accounts for exchange funds, which you should review in detail before signing.

Atlas links to the FEA on its site and publishes educational material on each exchange type, which helps investors understand the steps before they sign. As a smaller, founder-led firm, Atlas suits investors who want direct access to an experienced principal throughout the 45 and 180-day windows.

Best for: Investors who want personal attention from a CES founder, including on improvement and international exchanges.

10. Realty Exchange Corporation — Segregated FDIC-Insured Escrow With Daily Reconciliation

Realty Exchange Corporation is a Virginia corporation that has provided qualified intermediary services since 1990. Its office is in Gainesville, Virginia.

Its AlwaysSafe escrow approach opens a separate escrow account for each exchange, in the exchanger’s name and tax ID, at an FDIC-insured bank. Funds do not move without the exchanger’s specific authorization, and clients can add their own signature requirement for disbursements. Staff reconcile deposits and disbursements daily, the firm audits all escrow accounts monthly, and clients can often view their account online through the bank.

The firm carries errors and omissions insurance. Its site does not state a fidelity bond, so ask about one if that matters to you.

Best for: Investors who want to see and control their own exchange account throughout the process.

How To Choose A 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediary

How Are Exchange Funds Held?

Ask whether your money will sit in a segregated account or qualified trust in your name and tax ID, or in a pooled account. Segregated or qualified escrow and trust accounts reduce the risk that your funds are exposed to the intermediary’s own creditors.

What Bonding And Insurance Does The Intermediary Carry?

Request proof of the fidelity bond and errors and omissions insurance, including the limits, before you sign. A fidelity bond covers theft or fraud by employees. Errors and omissions insurance covers mistakes. Some intermediaries also offer a written guarantee from a parent company.

Are Staff Credentialed And Is The Firm An FEA Member?

The Certified Exchange Specialist (CES) designation requires passing an exam and ongoing education. FEA membership signals the company subscribes to the trade association’s code of ethics. Neither is a license, but both are useful signals in an industry most states do not regulate.

Can The Intermediary Handle Your Exchange Type?

Forward exchanges are standard. Reverse and improvement exchanges require the company to act as an Exchange Accommodation Titleholder and take title to property, which not every firm does.

How Will The Exchange Fit Your Wider Tax Plan?

Deferral interacts with depreciation recapture and future cost segregation on the replacement property. Ask your adviser how a study on the new building could work, and see our guide to how cost segregation works.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The 45-Day And 180-Day Rules?

Under the 45-day identification rule, you must identify replacement property in writing within 45 days of the sale. You must then acquire it within 180 days of the sale or by your tax return due date, including extensions, whichever comes first. Both periods run at the same time.

Can My Attorney Or Real Estate Agent Act As My Qualified Intermediary?

Generally no. People who acted as your agent, such as your employee, attorney, accountant or real estate agent within the prior two years, are usually disqualified. Use an independent intermediary.

What Is A Reverse 1031 Exchange?

A reverse exchange lets you buy the replacement property before you sell the old one. An Exchange Accommodation Titleholder holds title to one of the properties during the exchange period. It costs more and needs an intermediary experienced with these structures.

Can I Exchange Into A Delaware Statutory Trust?

DST interests can qualify as replacement property. They are securities offerings, so review our separate list of Delaware Statutory Trust sponsors and speak with a licensed adviser.

Conclusion

The best 1031 exchange qualified intermediary for you is the one whose fund protections, credentials and exchange experience match the size and type of your deal. Title-company-owned intermediaries offer large stated bonds and parent backing, specialists like CDEC and Accruit handle reverse and complex exchanges, and smaller CES-led firms offer direct access to experienced people. Get bond and insurance proof in writing, calendar your 45 and 180-day deadlines, and confirm the tax treatment with your CPA or tax attorney.

This article is general information, not tax or legal advice.